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Sunday, January 30

I've been experimenting with new recipes A LOT lately. And... I love it. Most recipes turn out well and I
add them to my list of meals to make frequently. But let me tell you, this last recipe knocked our socks off.

It's the top right recipe from last month's edition of Martha Stewart Magazine.

I looked for the recipe on her website to link but it's not there.

So for those of you who want a fantastic meal that will wow your husband (Lance was in love),

here it is:

CONCHIGLIE WITH SHRIMP, ROASTED TOMATOES, AND PIMENTON

2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes (12 ounces)

4 thyme sprigs

2 T extra-virgin olive oil

1 zucchini, sliced 1/4 inch thick (2 cups)

3 garlic cloves, halved

coarse salt

1 pound conchiglie

1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/3 cup heavy cream

1/8 teaspoon pimenton

1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1. Preheat oven to 375. Gently toss tomatoes with thyme, and 1 T oil. Transfer to rimmed baking sheet. Roast for 15 minutes. Add zucchini and garlic; toss to combine. Roast until tomatoes are just broken down and zucchini is cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes.

2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook conchiglie until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid.

3. Meanwhile, season shrimp with salt. Heat remaining T oil in a large skillet over high heat until hot but not smoking. Cook shrimp, stirring occasionally, until just opaque, about 3 minutes. Add cream, pimenton, red-pepper flakes, and roasted-tomatoe mixture. Bring to a simmer. Toss in pasta and reserved cooking liquid.

SOOO yummy!

I did a couple of things different, just to make do with what I had.

I used regular tomatoes, chopped instead of grape. I used 4 teaspoons dried thyme. I added extra

zucchini because we love it around here. I used shells instead of cochiglie. I used frozen shrimp and only

half a pound because shrimp can be expensive and I like to make it go further. I used paprika instead of

pimenton (pimenton is a spanish paprika), and I probably put double the amount of the last 3 ingredients

because we like things a little more spicy and creamy around here.

I also signed up for the free email newsletterEVERYDAY FOOD on Martha's website

Monday, January 24

My honey turned 26! It was an especially good birthday this year. To celebrate, we went on a yurt trip with Jake & Melissa Garrett. If you are like me, you probably have no idea what a yurt is. It's basically

like a canvas igloo. The one we reserved a night in was in the middle of nowhere and we had to ski in.

We started off by driving to Pocatello, Idaho. We got all strapped up to our Alpine touring skis and got

our packs on right at about dusk and started on our way.

The trail was AMAZING! It snowed the entire hike in. The woods around were so wildly beautiful

and quiet. And there were fresh animal tracks all around us the entire way. We had to use a GPS to find the yurt.

Let me tell you what a welcome site the Yurt was---all nestled in the middle of the forest, blanketed

in snow--after 6 hours of uphill hiking.

The men got a fire started while Melissa and I got the beds ready. We even melted snow to cook dinner

with! The yurt was so warm all night.

After we had eaten and packed up in the morning, we got our skis and packs on again and skied out!

Even though it was super challenging and a little scary at times, it is by far the funnest trip

we have done in a long time. We just can't wait to go back again!

We returned to Lance's parent's house to pick Crew up only to find a surprise birthday party

for Lance. I didn't get a picture of the group but thanks to all those who came!

Thursday, January 13

I've cleaned both bathrooms, scrubbed the shower, washed and folded 4 loads of laundry, vacuumed, swept, done the dishes, packed for mine and Crew's trip to Denver (tomorrow!), and now I have a sleeping baby and am eating a delicious warm brownie while I blog (sigh of contentment).

I promise I'm not always this productive- but I do try.

Anyways...this post is going to be a random one :)

First, here are pictures of our kitchen table which Lance and I painted not too long ago.

I LOVE it! How did I choose light blue/turquoise? Well, it's just the color

we happened to have left over from painting Crew's room. I love transforming

something by using things I already have.

Here is the cute little shelf that used to hang in my room. I painted it white and now it is the

perfect place for Crew's books and blankies (and someday for his little backpack)

Second random subject: I made a new year's resolution to read 12 books this year. I have always

loved reading and did a lot more before I was in college but haven't very much since. Well,

I got right on it and started reading a new book New Year's day. I'm now starting into my 3rd book for the year. I forgot how much I love it!

The first one I read was

I wasn't very impressed. Very good writing but pure entertainment.

However, I just finished reading Jane Eyre.

And I absolutely loved it! I love books that stimulate your mind. Charlotte Bronte's use

of language is so beautiful! And it wasn't only entertaining, but had so many wonderful

life-lessons as well. I would definitely recommend it. And isn't this portrait of the author gorgeous?

I want to print it, frame it and put it up somewhere.

I'm now reading The Life of Christ by Fredrick Farrer and I can tell it's going to be fantastic.

As for the other 9 I need to read this year, I need some suggestions! What have you been reading?

Third random subject: you may already know that I am a complete sucker for design blogs. One of my

favorites, Simply Seleta, posts "Wednesday Whites" that are to die for! Here are two from this last week

I would just die to have Crew's room look like this! I am definitely doing the horizontal

stripes when we get a house.

And lastly: Look who got two new teeth!

He's also figuring out how to crawl. He does this cute little army/inch worm thing.

He also recently decided that Daddy is his favorite person in the world. Lance works long hard days

and when he gets home, Crew gets so excited. With me, Crew is not happy unless we

are doing something exciting or out of the ordinary. With Lance, he is happy to just

Tuesday, January 4

Crew has about the cutest baby giggle I've ever heard. You can't help but laugh along with him! He gets the most silly before bedtime and since we live downstairs, my family is usually in on the fun. I can't tell you how many countless times we've all been gathered around him at night while he giggles his little heart out- sometimes for 20 minutes straight or more!

This was Christmas night and the pooh bear is one my mom had given Crew for Christmas. He was completely captivated by it.

I promise it's not always smiles and giggles around here. We have our fair share of tantrums and tears as well. But I treasure these moments! Enjoy :)